Launching machine



Nov. 8, 1932. c. HUNT 1,887,056

LAUNCHING MACH INE Filed Aug. 3, 19:52*l 3 sheets-sheet 1 Vl F7 5. Z y 57 3f v F75.

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L29' I )Uh 'dumm' btouwgo `Nov. 8, 1932. c. HUNT 1,887,056

LAUNCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 No'v. s, 1932. C HUNT 1,887,056

LAUNCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @www l Patented Nov. 8, 1932 j UNITED STATES PATENT Fric;

\ CHARLES HUNT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAUNCHING MACHINE Application led August 3, 1932. Serial No. $27,367.

are positioned along the sides of the ship, aV

pair of davits being employed for each life boat. Between each pairof davits there is mounted upon blocks a life boat. The blocks rest uponthe deck of the ship andk are adjacent to the rail. When it is desired to 5 launch a life boat the boat falls of the davits, which are connected to the boat are actuated so as to raise the boat oil `of its blocks and the davits are swung outboard or over the side of the ship so as to cause the lite boatto clear the ships sides. The life boat is then lowered by employing the boat falls secured at each end thereof. Y c

In the present practice it is impossible to launch a life boat from either side'of the 5 ship which is desired. A life boat mounted upon the starboard side must be launched on the starboard side as there are no means for! positioning this boat so it may be launched from the port side of the vessel. It frequent- 0 l i happens, at sea, that a life boat may only be launched from one side of the ship. In the manner of mounting now employed this is impossible and the life boats positioned upon one side of the vessel are useless.

f As is well knownl it is practically impossible to launch a boat fromy a vessel on the Windward side where there is an exceedingly heavy sea running.y In the case of a ship at times wherer it is necessary to abandon 0 the vessel, it may be appreciated that in this event all of the life boats on the windward side would be useless and the lifeboat capacity would be halved. f n

y Another serious condition which frequent- 0Vly occurs is when the vessel has a decided `list to one side. Upon such a condition occurring boats lmay be launched from onlyV the listed side. As in the case previously mentioned this also halves the life boat ca- 0 pacity of the vessel ywith the result thatif it is necessary to abandon the shipk the possibilities of saving all of the persons on boa-rd are greatly lowered. i

VVhile the above discussion has been limited to the launching of small boats from shipboard, it is apparent that similar disadvantages arise in the launching of boats from wharves, piers and the like. The boats are `positioned on the sides yand end of such structures, ina manner similar to that prevously described and are launched from davifts fiXedly ,mounted upon the. structure itself. It frequently happens that it is desirable to launch all of Vthe boats from the same side of such a structure, yet the present practice does not permit this to be accomplished. y

y The major object of this invention is to devise a mechanism for llaunching a vboat positioned at a considerable distancev from i the point where it is to be placed overboard. An equally important objectk of this invention is the provision of means for launching life boats on either side of a ship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel movable davit and means for moving the same. l

Another obj ect of this invention is the provision of a device for launching a plurality of life boats from either side of a'ship. l

, Still another object of the invention is the provision of a davitwhich may be used for shifting cargo and for other purposes on shipboard. y f

Still another object ol the invention is to provide a novel, mounting lfor life boats which may be readily shifted upon tracks.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

ywith'ithe understanding that the several necessary elements kcomprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions. andk arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention comprehends the construction of a boat launching mechanism which allows boats to be launched from either side oa ship.v One manner of practically effecting the concept of this invention is the provision of movable supporting carriages for the life boats, these carriages adapted to be moved to either side of the ship and movable lifting, lowering and supporting means to be used for the purpose of launching the boats from the carriages.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my boat launchA ing mechanism mounted upon the boat deck of a ship. i

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing one of the life boats being launched.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal view of the boat launching mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 showing one of the davits associated with my device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of F 4 and discloses a brake mechanism for controlling the actuation of the boat falls associated with the davit of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a boat carriage with the boat mounted thereon.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the clutch mechanism associated with the Winches employed withmy device.

Fig. 8 shows the preferred embodiment of the davit construction of the invention and is an elevation of the mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an elevation showing a boat upon its boat carriage.

Fig. 10 is a modified form of boat carriage and is a front elevation thereof.

As shown in the drawings, the numeral l represents a boat deck of a vessel, while 2 represents a deck directly below the boat deck. The usual stanchions or supports 3 between the two decks are shown. Mounted at the center of the boat deck 1 so as to be as distant as possible from the damaging effect of waves are life boats 4. As it may be observed, sets of boat rails or trackways 5 extend entirely across the boat deck in a direction parallel to the transverse axis or the beam of the ship. The outer ends of the trackways 5 adjacent to the ships sides, are sloped downwardly below the horizontal, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

Boat rails 5 are constructed either of I beams or of channel bars, the latter being preferred, and they are closed at their ends by a channel 6 which serves as a stop.

Adapted to be supported upon the boat rails 5 are a plurality of carriages 7, the preferred embodiment of which is shown in Figs. 9

and 10. As it may be here observed, each carriage is provided with a plurality of axles 8 having wheels 9 secured thereon. The wheels of each carriage are mounted in the channels 5 which form the trackways or guides and are freely rotatable therein so that the carriage may be readily moved. It should be noted that the upper portion of each carriage (Fig. 9) is of cradle-like shape so as to conform to the surface contour of the boat, while an openinff or slot 10 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the carriage so that a boat keel may rest therein and the whole boat firmly supported on the carriage.

There is shown in Fig. 6 a slight modification of the carriage mounting or moving means. Here a carriage 7 (similar to the carriage 7) is provided with ball bearings 10 instead of wheels. In the use of such a carriage the channels forming the boat rails are positioned so that their webs are parallel to the deck instead of perpendicular thereto, as in the construction previously described. It is apparent that by the use of the balls 10 the carriage 7 is freely movable on its rails.

Although I have shown the carriages mounted upon wheels and ball bearings, I

Wish it to be understood that other movable carrying means may be employed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For example, roller bearings may be employed if desired.

While I have shown two sets of boat rails and two carriages for each life boat, it is 0bvious that if it is desired, one large carriage, and one set of rails may be employed without ,depart-ing from the spirit of the invention.

Positioned upon the outside of the boat rails 5, as seen in Fig. 3, are sets of davit rails 11. The davit rails 11 extend from each side` of the ship to a point near the ships center and are parallel to the boat rails 5. It should be noted that the onter ends of the davit rails 11 are also sloped below the hori- Zontal as in the case of the boat rails and that they are formed of either I beams or channel bars, the latter being again preferred. The

outer ends of each davit rail is closed bv a IFIowever, upon the other side of the ship,

since Fig. 3 is abroken view, two similar davit carriages are mounted upon the davit rails.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention there is mounted upon each davit carriage k12 a tubular 'davit 15 which is supported in a swivel socket 16. Also mounted upon the davit carriage is a suitable derrick which generally designated as 17. The derrick winch is provided with a cable 18 which after passing around the drum of the winch is secured' to the boat falls 19. As it may be observed fr m the drawings, the boat falls may be connected to a life boat. It should be noted that two pairs of davit-s are provided, one pair for each side of the center ofthe ship.

The construction shown in Figs. 1. 2, 3, and 4 discloses a modification of the davit carriages. In these figures a substantial A frame construction having diagonal bracings 20 areV employed to form the davits 15. It should be noted that the upper end of the davit 15 is bent upon itself as shown at 21 and adapted to be suspended therefrom are the usual boat falls The lower end of the davit 15 is formed with a suitable piece which is bolted or otherwise secured to a carriage 22 as may be observed from an inspection of Fig. 4. Carriage 22 is provided with suitable axles 23 having wheels 2d or other rotatable moving means secured thereon. The carriage 22 with the davit l5 Mecured thereon is mounted in the davit tracks 11 in a manner similar to the mountingcisclosed for the davit car-V riage in 8. 1t should be observed that the carriage and the davit l5 have no derrick winch mountedthereon, there being provided a separate winch 17 for each davit. The winch 17 is suitably mounted upon vthe deck between the inner ends of cach set of davit rails 11. V

A boat fall cable or rope 25 is secured upon the drum of the winch 17 and extends through the falls. 25. Mounted upon each davit 15 is an arm 26 which carries a guide pulley 27 over which the cable 25 passes. There is also provided upon the arm 27 a suitable safety brtke 28 for the fall rope. The brake 28 is shown l 5 rand it may be applied in coni unction witha brake or pawl upon the winch 17 or it may be used by itself as desired.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention and in that shown in Figs; 1 through 5 it should be ob" ved that upon the operation of the davit i flies the boat falls may be raised or lowered as desired. Moreover. it is apparent that the d vi carriages are freely movable in their trackways. vvll/'hile the davit ca 'riagcs 22 and 12 are Vprovided with moving means coin1 rising wheels, it is to be understood that other m Vans, suclrfor example as ball or roller bearings may be employed without departing from the spirit or scopey of the invention.

Arranged between the inner ends of each set of davit tracks are four deck Winches 29 (Figi.

8). Each of the Winches 29 is provided with a cable or chain 30 which is wound upon the drum of the winch. One end of the cable 30 is connected to the inner side, that is the side of the davit carriage nearest the ships center, as at 31, while the other end of the cable is connected to the outboard side of the carriage as shown at 82.

Each cable 30 passes over a suitable pulley or sheave 33 arranged below the davit track and over a sheave 34 positioned adjacent the outer side of the boat deck. It may be observed that starting from the connection 31 each cable 30 passes around the drum of its deck winch, thence over the sheaves 33 and is linally secured to the carriage at the connection point 32. It may be observed in Fig. 8 that upon rotation of the winch drum in a counter clockwise direction the cable 30 will be wound upon this drum in a similar direction. The effect of this becomes apparent in that it causes the davit carriage connected to this cable to move outwardly towards the side of the ship. Upon rotating the drum in an opposite direction, the davit carriage may be moved inwardly.

Shown in Fig. 3 are deck winches 29 employed for moving the davit carriages 15 outwardly and inwardly with respect to the sides of the ship. For the sake of simplicity in the drawings, only one end of the cable or chain 30', employed to move the davit carriages in an inboard and outboard direction, has been shown connected to each davit carriage 29. lt is obvious, however, that a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 8 permitting both ends of the davit carriage chain 30 to be connected to the carriage and allows ing'the chain to run over suitable guides or pulleys, can be readily employed with this construction.

The davit Winches 29 employed for moving the davit carriages, which are in line with each other and on opposite sides of the ships center, are so arranged that the inner sides of their drums 35 are adjacentto each other. These drums 35 are freely mounted upon a shaft 36 and between their inner ends is slidably keyed a male coupling member 87. The inner end of each winch drum 35 is adapted to be engaged by the male coupling member 37 so that either drum may be rotated at will. Upon the ends of the shaft 3G are mounted suitable crank nandles 38. By the suitable engagement of the coupling member 37 with either drum 35, upon rotation of a crank handle 38 in the proper didection, a davit carriage 15 on either side of the ship may be moved outboard or inboard as desired. In addition, suitable connections may be employed for connecting the deck Winches 29 for opposite davit carriages, that is, davit carriages on the same side of the ship, together so that they may be actuated simultaneously and by the same operator. lVhile 'roo rss

I have shown this construction as employed with t ie modiiication shown in Figs. l through 5, it will be well understood that it may be adapted to the preferred embodiment, shown in Fi 8, for the actuation of the deck Winches 29.

IWhile the construction shown in Fig. 8 nages use of separate deck Winches for each davit it is obvious that this can be done away with if it is desired, and each davit carriage be moved inwardly and outwardly by mechanism mounted thereon. To accomplish this, rack teeth may he formed upon the Webs of the channel members and a suitable pinion capable of being rotated can be mounted upon the davit carriage. It is obvious that by the rotation of such a pinion, since it is in mesh with the rack teeth the carriage may be moved inwardly or outwardly as desired. ll/iloi'eover, such a pinion may be rotated by the crank arm employed to actuate the Winch mounted upon the davit carriage. This coul d be readily accomplished by a suitable clutch connection between the pinion and the winch crank shaft.

IVhile it has been pointed out that the deck Winches 29 employed with the construction shown in Fig. 8 may be eliminated, it is equally obvious that the deck Winches 29 used with the davit having the A frame construction may be likewise done away with. This can also be readily accomplished by forming rack teeth upon the webs of the channel members which make up the davit rail and providing a rotatable pinion upon each davit carriage l5 adapted to mesh with the rack teeth. Such a pinion could be rotated from the davit carriage itself, and it is apparent that the carriage can be moved inwardly or outwardly as desired by the use of such construction. A construction similar to that employed for the actuation of the deck Winches Q9 is shown for the Winches 17 which are used to operate the boat falls 25.

It should be noted that the movable davit carriages with the davits mounted thereon may be used as derricks or Winches for shiftingcargo When it is desired. To accomplish this the davit tracks may be placed adjacent to, or directly over, the hatches. In the latter event the portion of the trackway directly over the hatches may be hinged either vertically or horizontally so as to move it out of the way for the removal of the cover of the hatch, or the hatch cover itself may be constructed of several removable pieces of material. It is obvious that the life boats, having been securely tied to the deck, the boat falls may be disconnected from them and the davits may be shifted upon the tracks for shifting and storing the cargo and ship gear.

From the foregoing description the method of operation of the device may be Well understood. Assume, for example, that the life boats are to be launched upon the left side of the ship as seen from the dra-wings. In this event the davits on the left of the ship center would be employed. The life boat is unleashed from its deck ties and the Winches 29are simultaneously operated so as to move the boat carriages, the davit carriages 12 and the life boat outboard or to the left. As the boat moves outwardly it leaves the boat carriage and is supported by the davits l5, and swings over the side of the ship. rlhe Winches 29 are actuated until the davits reach the outermost position where they are stopped by reason of the channel bar 11 forming the ends of each davit rail.

As the boat carriages are moved outwardly towards the side of the ship, it is apparent because of the downward slope given to the boat rails and because of the fact that the boat is supported by the davits, that the boat becomes free from its engagement with the wards the end of the boat rails 5 and are stopped by the channel member 6 at the ends of the boat rails.

The davits having been moved to the eX- treme outward position the life boat can be lowered and the descent of the boat may be regulated by the use of the brake provided on the winch of the davit ca riage In the construction shown in Fig. S a suitable shaft may be connected between the two davit Winches 14 so that they may be operated simultaneously land by one man.

If it is desired to launch another boat from the same side of the ship, the davits l5, shown in Fig. 8, are turned in their swivels 16 and the boat falls are secured to an unleashed boat. By actuating the boat falls, this boat will be pulled towards the davits and freed from enga-gement with its boat carriages. The davit may then be turned outwardly and the boat lowered over the sides of the ship.

In the event that a boat is to be lowered to the right of the ships center, as shown in the drawings, the Winches on the right are employed to similarly launch the boat on this side. Thus it may be seen that any number of boats mounted upon the boat track may be launched from either' or from both sides of the vessel.

l/Vhile the operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be appreciated that the construction shown in Figs. l through 5 inclusive is similarly actuated. I-Iere when it is desired to launch a boat upon the left side of the ship the deck Winches 29 are actuated so as to cause the pair of davit carriages l5 on the left of the ships center to be moved outwardly, thus moving the boat with them. After this operation the deck Winches 17 are employed to operate the boat falls so as to lower the boat suspended therefrom. It may be appreciated that a conventional connection may be employedbetween the` davit win'ches l17 "for theioperation of the opposite falls connected tothe same life boat so that these falls ymay be simultaneously actuated operatine` the boat falls and those employed for moving the davit carriages on the right will be actuated.

While I have shown two sets of boat rails 5 for the boat carriages, it may be appreciated that by employing more than two sets of rails each boat carriage may be positioned adjacent to the outward ends of the boat rails.

In the event thatu all the boats are to be launched from one side of the ship, such a construction would prevent the boat carria-ges of two or more boats from backing up upon eachother in the trackways. Fory ,y example, consider that the life boats are mounted in groups of three, then five sets of rails would be provided. One boat would be supported on a single carriage adapted to run on the center rail set, while another boat would be supported by two carriages adapted to move upon the rail sets adjacent to and on opposite sides of the center track and the third boat would be supported on two carriages, one on each of the end rail sets. If the boats are to be mounted in groups of more than three, it is obvious A that more rail sets may be added to theforegoing construction.

It has been pointed out that the present method of mounting life boats on ships posir tions them adjacent to the rail of the vessel.

shown associated with a ship forthe purpose` of launching small boats therefrom, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular use. Obviously the 1- mechanism may be employed on any structure from which boats are to be launched, such as piers, wharves and the like.A

From the foregoing description it may be appreciated 'that I have provided a boat launching mechanism capable of launching a boat'` positioned at a considerable' distance from the point where it is-to placed overboard.y -Moreover, it may be seen thatby the use of my mechanism one or more boats may be launched from vany ydesired side kof a ship.V It is also apparent that I have provided a novel movable davit which in addi-l tion to being usedfor launching boats may be employed Yin connectionwith the storage oflarticies in thehold of a vessel or forother purposes. Likewise itmay' be seen that I have ydevised a boat carriage which may be readily moved from side to side of the ship; Also it may be appreciated that I have devised a'meehanism which allows life boats to' be so located on ashipthat the damaging effects of waves to the boats are minimized. j yWhile I'have shown` and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I wish `it to be understood that I do not coniine'my-- art, `without ,departingy from the spirit of f the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

l I claim: c j l. A mechanism for launching a' life boat from either side of a ship comprising boat carriages for supporting the boat, pairs of davits for raising, holding, and lowering the boat, said davits being mountedupon separate 'davit carriages, trackways for said boat carriages and said davit carriages, a rotatable drum for each davit carriage,a cable wound upon keach drum Vthe ends thereof being secured to a davit carriage,'and means foractuating a pair ofvsaid drums so asto move a pair ofk davitsfand the boat carriages to either side of the ship in order to position the boat for launching. f

2. A mechanism for launching a boat, comprising boat' carriages for supporting `the boat, pairs of davits for raising, holding, and lowering the boat, said davits being mounted on separate davit carriages,`trackways for said boat carriages yand davit carriages, the ends of said boat carriage trackways adjacent to the point of launching being sloped downwardly from the horizontal, a rotatable drum for each davit carriage, a cable wound upon each drum, the ends thereof being secured' to a davit carriage,and means for actuating a pairof said drums so as to move a pairk of davitsand the boat carriages to either side of the ship in order to position theboat for launching. 3. A mechanism for launching alife boat from a ship comprising carriages. for supporting ya life boat, pairs of davits for raising, holding, and lowering said boat, trackways for said boat carriages, V'the boat carriage trackways extending from one side of the ship to the other, the ends thereof adjacent to the as to move a pair of davits and the boat car# sides of the ship being sloped downwardly riages to either side of the ship in order to from the horizontal, and means for moving a position the boat for launching.

` pair of davits so as to position the boat carriage and the boat on either Vside of the ship for launching. 4. A mechanism for launching life boats from a ship comprising a plurality of boat carriages adaptedvto support a plurality of life boats, pairs of davits for raising, supporting, and lowering the boats, each of said davits being mounted upon al carriage, and means for separately moving each boat carriage and a pair of davits to either side of the ship so as to separately position each boat for launching, said means comprising a rotatable drum for each davit carriage, a cable Awound upon each drum, the 4ends thereof being secured to al davit carriage, and means for actuating a pair of said drums so as to move a pair of said davits and a boat carriage.

5. A mechanism for launching life boats from a ship comprising arranging a plurality of life boats Vupon a plurality of movable carriages, said carriages being mounted upon trackways extending from one side of the ship to the other, pairs of davits for raising, holding, and lowering a boat, each of said davits being mounted upon a movable carriage, and means vfor moving a pair of davits to either side of the ship so as to separately position each boat for launching, said means comprising a rotatable drum for each carriage, a cable wound upon each drum, the ends thereof being secured to a davit carriage, and means for actuating a pair of said drums so as to move a pair of davits and a boat carriage.

6. A mechanism for launching a life boat from a ship, said mechanism comprising boat carriages adapted to have a boat mounted thereon, traclways for said boat carriages extending from one side of the ship to the other, pairs of movable davits adapted to raise, support and lower the boat, stationary means for Vmoving said carriages upon the trackways to either side of the ship, and stationary means for moving a pair of davits in the same direction as the carriages so as to launch the life boat'.

7. A mechanism for launching a life boat from either side of a ship comprising boat Lcarriages for supporting the boat, pairs of davits for raising, holding, and lowering said boat, said davits being mounted upon separate davit carriages, trackways for said boat carriages, the boatk carriage trackways eX- tending from one side of the ship to the other, the ends thereof adjacent to the sides of the ship being sloped downwardly from the horizontal, trackways for said davit carriages, a rotatable drum for each davit carriage, a cable wound upon each drum, the ends of said cable being secured to a davit carriage, and means for actuating a pair of said drums so In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

CHAS. HUNT. 

